Naaman Healed of Leprosy Story - Bible

Naaman was the commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master. He was highly respected. The Lord had given victory to Aram through him. Naaman was a brave soldier. But he had leprosy.

The Arameans had taken a young girl from Israel as a captive. She served Naaman's wife. She said to her mistress, 'If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.'

Naaman went to his master and told him what the girl from Israel had said. The king of Aram said, 'Go now. I will send a letter to the king of Israel.' So Naaman left. He took with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten sets of clothing.

The letter that he took to the king of Israel read, 'With this letter I am sending my servant Naaman to you. I want you to cure him of his leprosy.'

When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his robes. He said, 'Am I God? Can I kill and bring back to life? This man is sending someone to me to be cured of his leprosy. See how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me!'

When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his robes, he sent a message to the king. He said, 'Why have you torn your robes? Have the man come to me. He will know that there is a prophet in Israel.'

So Naaman went with his horses and chariots. He stopped at the door of Elisha's house. Elisha sent a messenger out to him. He said, 'Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan River. Then your flesh will be restored. You will be cleansed.'

But Naaman went away angry. He said, 'I thought that he would surely come out to me. I thought he would stand and call on the name of the Lord his God. I thought he would wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy. Are not the Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn't I wash in them and be cleansed?' So he turned and went off in a rage.

Naaman's servants went to him. They said, 'My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more should you do it when he tells you, 'Wash and be cleansed'?'

So Naaman went down and dipped himself in the Jordan River seven times. He did just as the man of God had told him. His flesh was restored. It became clean like the flesh of a young boy.

Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God. He stood before him and said, 'Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. Please accept a gift from your servant.'

The prophet answered, 'As surely as the Lord lives, whom I serve, I will not accept a thing.' Naaman begged him to take it. But Elisha refused.

Naaman said, 'If you will not, please let me, your servant, be given as much earth as a pair of mules can carry. Your servant will never again make burnt offerings and sacrifices to any other god but the Lord. But may the Lord forgive your servant for this one thing: When my master enters the temple of Rimmon to bow down there, he leans on my arm. I also have to bow down there. When I bow down in the temple of Rimmon, may the Lord forgive your servant for this.'

Elisha said to him, 'Go in peace.'

After Naaman had gone a short distance, Gehazi, the servant of Elisha, thought to himself, 'My master was too easy on Naaman. He should not have let this Aramean get away without giving something. As surely as the Lord lives, I will run after him and get something from him.'

So Gehazi hurried after Naaman. When Naaman saw him running toward him, he got down from the chariot to meet him. 'Is everything all right?' Naaman asked.

Gehazi answered, 'Everything is all right. My master sent me to say, 'Two young men from the company of the prophets have just come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and two sets of clothing.''

Naaman said, 'Be pleased to accept two talents.' He urged Gehazi to take them. Then he tied two talents of silver in two bags. He also gave two sets of clothing. He gave them to two of his servants. They carried them ahead of Gehazi.

When Gehazi came to the hill, he took the things from the servants. He put them away in the house. He sent the men away, and they left.

Then Gehazi went in and stood before his master Elisha. Elisha asked him, 'Where have you been, Gehazi?'

Gehazi answered, 'Your servant didn't go anywhere.'

But Elisha said to him, 'Was not my spirit with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to take money or to accept clothing? Is this the time to accept olive groves, vineyards, flocks, herds, or male and female servants? Naaman's leprosy will cling to you and to your descendants forever.'

Then Gehazi left Elisha's presence. His skin was as white as snow. He had leprosy.

Naaman learned that God can heal anyone who trusts Him. Naaman was a foreigner. He was an enemy of Israel. But when he humbled himself and obeyed God's word, God healed him completely. Naaman became a believer in the one true God. Gehazi learned that greed and lying have serious consequences. God sees everything we do. He wants us to be honest and to serve Him with pure hearts.

The Naaman Healed of Leprosy story teaches obedience and humility. It shows that healing and blessings come when we trust God’s guidance. This story highlights faith and divine mercy.